Cabinet for towel dispensers



Sept 1. 1964 R. T. BIRR ETAL CABINET FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 28, 1962 ATTORNEYS Sept l, 1954 R. T. BIRR ETAL.

CABINET FOR TOWEL DISPENSER-S 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 FIG@ AT TO RNEYS Sept' l, 1964 R. T. BIRR ETAL CABINET FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb, 28, 1962 INVENTORS RlCH/RD T. BIRR BY ERWIN B. BAHNSEN /mzr/y ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,147,051 CABINET FR TOWEL DISPENSERS Richard T. Birr, Deerfield, and Erwin B. Bahnsen, Hinsdale, Ill., assignors to Steiner American Corporation, Sait Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Nevada Filed Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,299 2 Claims. (Cl. S12-37) This invention relates to a cabinet which accommodates different types of towel dispensers interchangeably. The cabinet is especially suited for the use of either a cloth towel dispenser or a paper towel dispenser therewith.

Prior to the present invention, cabinets have been provided for mounting towel dispensers therein. One type is supplied for cloth towel dispensers. In particular, a two-door cabinet has been furnished, wherein a cloth towel dispenser is supported in an upper compartment closed by one of the doors. A lower compartment is employed as a storage locker which is closed by the remaining door. Another type of cabinet has been supplied for paper towel dispensers. In this cabinet, a paper towel dispenser is mounted in an upper compartment which is closed by a door. A lower compartment is open at the top and serves for the collection of Waste. lA waste receptacle is mounted in the compartment, and the compartment is closed by a second door.

The prior cabinets are very useful. However, two types have been required, with accompanying need for manufacturing, storage and distribution facilities for both types. In use, it is necessary to decide initially on the type of installation to be made, particularly since the cabinets preferably are constructed and installed as recessed fixtures. Thereafter, it becomes inconvenient or adds to the cost to change from one type of dispenser and cabinet to another.

The principal object of the present invention is to eliminate this duplication and the cost and inconvenience thereof.

A particular object is to provide a cabinet which accommodates different types of towel dispensers interchangeably, at the option of the user.

Another particular object is to provide a cabinet which functions either in the desired manner for a cloth towel dispenser or in the desired manner for a paper towel dispenser, and changeover from one to the other is a very simple operation.

Additional objects include the provision of a convenient, economical, functional and attractive cabinet for use with different types of towel dispensers.

These and other objects, advantages and functions of the invention will be apparent on reference to the speciication and to the attached drawings, in which like parts are identified by like reference symbols in each of the views, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the new cabinet, with a part broken away, illustrating its use with two different types of towel dispensers as shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken horizontal cross-sectional view thereof taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. l, illustrating the construction of the upper door;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 1, illustrating the construction of the divider;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken on line S-S of FIG. 1, illustrating the construction of the Waste chute;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged broken horizontal cross-sectional View taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 1, illustrating the construction of the lower door;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the cabinet, with parts broken away, illustrating its use in combination with a cloth towel dispenser; and

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the cabinet, with parts broken away, illustrating its use in combination with a paper towel dispenser.

The new cabinet for towel dispensers includes an upper compartment adapted for mounting a towel dispenser therein, a lower compartment having a top opening, a cover for the opening, and means for mounting the cover to prevent access to the lower compartment through the opening, the cover being removable from the mounting means to render the lower compartment accessible through the opening for the collection of waste in the compartment. In preferred applications of the invention, the cover is mounted to close the lower compartment when a cloth towel dispenser is mounted in the upper compartment, and the cover is removed to open the lower compartment when a paper towel dispenser is mounted in the upper compartment.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a recessed cabinet or fixture is generally indicated by the number 11i. The cabinet is a right rectangular unit which includes an upstariding back wall panel 12, upstanding spaced parallel side wall panels 14 and 16, and horizontal spaced parallel top and bottom wall panels 18 and 211. A framing flange 22 borders the front of the cabinet, extending laterally outwardly around the periphery thereof. y.It is formed of a plurality of sections respectively integral with the side panels 14 and 16 and the top and bottom panels 1=8 and 20. As seen in FIG. l, the ange sections are joined by means of angles 24 on the reverse side thereof where the sections abut. Each of the side panels 14 and 16 is provided with an upper mounting hole 26 and a lower mounting hole 28, for the insertion of fastening means therethrough to secure the cabinet to an adjoining surface of a wall recess. When the cabinet is mounted in a wall recess, the framing fiange 22 extends over the adjoining front wall surfaces and covers and closes the space therebetween.

As seen in FIG. 1, the back panel 12 is provided with an upper pair of spaced dispenser mounting holes 30 and a similar lower pair of spaced mounting holes 32, which are employed for mounting a cloth towel dispenser in an upper compartment 34 of the cabinet 10. As seen in FIG. 2, threaded nuts 36 and 38 are welded or otherwise secured on the rear surface of the back panel 12 in register with the respective openings 30 and 32. Mounting screws 41D and 42 are threaded into the respective nuts 36 and 38 from within the compartment 24, and they may be permanently or temporarily mounted in their positions.

A second set of mounting holes is provided in the back panel 12, composed of an upper pair of spaced openings 44 and a lower pair of spaced openings 46. This set of openings may be employed for mounting a paper towel dispenser. In like manner to the previously described mounting means, threaded nuts 48 and 50 are welded on the back of the back panel 12 in register with the respective holes 44 and 46, and screws, not illustrated, may be secured to the nuts and extend into the compartment in the same manner as do the screws 40 and 42 for the remaining set of openings.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of horizontally aligned spaced tabs 52 are struck out and extend inwardly from the upper section of each of the side panels 14 and 16, for removably supporting a shelf 54 thereon in the upper compartment 34 (see also FIG. 8). A like pair of tabs 56 is provided on the lower section of each of the side walls 14 and 16. The tabs extend into a lower compartment 53 and removably support a shelf 60 therein (see also FIG. 7). The lower shelf tabs 56 are also shown 3 in FIG. 6, and the upper shelf tabs 52 are like the lower tabs.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the side panel 14, and likewise the side panel 16, is provided with two spaced parallel inclined rows of threaded nuts 62 and 64 welded on the outer surface of the panel in register with corresponding holes in the panel. As seen in FIG. 4, screws 66 are permanently or temporarily secured to the nuts and project into the central compartment 68 of the cabinet. The screws provide mounting pin means removably engageable with mounting slot means on an inclined divider or cover 70. A

The divider is a one-piece construction of a top panel 72, a depending rear flange 74, a depending front facing flange 76, which is turned inwardly and upwardly to provide a finished margin 78, and depending side flanges 80. Each of the side flanges is provided with three parallel upwardly and forwardly inclined slots 82 which are spaced apart to receive the shanks or pins of the divider mounting screws 66 therein. The divider 79 may be mounted in either of upper and lower positions as illustrated in FIGS. l, 2, 7 and 8. The divider extends between the cabinet side panels 14 and 16 which abut on the side anges 80, and from the back panel 12, which abuts on the rear flange 74, to the front edges of the side panels. The divider completely covers the cabinet therebelow and particularly the lower compartment 58.

The upper compartment 34 is constructed of the upper ends of the back panel 12 and the side panels 14 and 16, the top panel 18, and an outwardly projecting upper front door 84. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, a bottom dispensing opening 86 is provided between the door 84 and the back side panels.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the upper door 84 is a double wall structure including an outer panel 88 and an inner panel 90 secured thereto. The inner panel is creased and bent outwardly along the diagonal lines 92 shown in FIG. 1. The outer panel is bent to form a front section 94, and parallel side sections 96 and 98 along opposite edges of the front section normal thereto. The panel is further bent reversely on each side to form double side wall constructions including inner side sections 100 and 102, which extend to the inner panel 9i). The door is pivotally mounted on one side panel 14 of the cabinet by a vertical piano hinge 104 extending along the front edge of the side panel and joined to the rear edge of door side section 96. A lock 106 is mounted on the opposite side section 98 of the door, and it includes a latch 108. A doorstop 110 in the form of a bent strip is secured on the inner surface of the adjacent side panel 16 of the cabinet, and a latch holder 112 is secured thereto. The door section $8 abuts on the doorstop, and the latch engages the latch holder to lock the door.

The lower compartment 58 is constructed of the lower ends of the back panel 12 and the side panels 14 and 16, the bottom wall 20, and a lower flush door 114. The lower compartment includes a top Waste receiving opening 116 (FIG. 5) between the door and the back and side panels. As seen in FIG. 6, the door is a double wall structure which includes an outer panel 118 and a spaced parallel inner panel 120 secured thereto. The door is pivotally mounted along one edge by a vertical piano hinge 122 mounted on a side panel 14. A lock 124 is mounted on the door adjacent the opposite side panel 16, and it includes a latch 126. The latch is engageable with a doorstop 128 in the form of a bent strip extending vertically on the inner surface of the side panel 16.

As seen in FIG. 1, a pair of rails or tracks 130 is mounted on the inner surface of the bottom panel 20. A waste receptacle 132 open at the top is removably mountable in the lower compartment 58. It is supported by the rails and glides thereon when moved in and out. The receptacle is moved by grasping a handle 134 fastened to its front side.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, a Waste chute 136 is secured above the receptacle on the inner surfaces of the back panel 12 and the side panels 14 and 16. It includes a rim 138 secured on the panels, and an integral inwardly sloping border 140' forming a mouth around the top opening 116 of the compartment. An inwardly turned channel piece 142 provides a facing on the chute and a frame member across the top of the door 114.

The central compartment 68 (FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8) constitutes the remainder of the cabinet. It is formed by the back panel 12 and the side panels 14 and 16. It is open at the front for access thereto. The top of the central compartment opens into the upper compartment 34 at the dispensing opening 86. The bottom of the central compartment opens into the lower compartment 58 at the waste receiving opening 116. The divider 70 is mountable as previously described in either of two positions in the central compartment, depending upon the type of towel dispenser mounted in the cabinet.

The construction of the upper compartment 34 enables various types and sizes of towel dispensers to be mounted therein. In the assembly of FIG. 7, a dispenser 144 for a continuous cloth towel 146 is mounted in the compartment. In the assembly of FIG. 8, a dispenser 148 is mounted to dispense sheets of paper towel 150 from a roll thereof. The cloth towel dispenser is mounted on the screws 48 and 42 extending through the mounting openings 30 and 32, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For this purpose, corresponding holes and slots may be provided in the back wall of the dispenser to receive the screws in engagement therewith. In like manner, the paper towel dispenser 148 may be mounted on screws extending through the mounting openings 44 and 46.

These views illustrate how the structure accommodates dispensers of different dimensions and having different mounting requirements. The projecting upper cabinet door 84 accomodates the greater thickness or depth of the cloth towel dispenser 144. The door also covers the dispenser so that only the towel 146 extends below the door and is accessible for use. With the cloth towel dispenser mounted in a cabinet in this manner, the top cover 152 thereof may be removed if desired, so that the interior of the dispenser is accessible merely by opening the door 84.

The paper towel dispenser 148 is mounted in a lower position in the upper compartment, so that a feed wheel 154 thereon is accessible to the user. The top cover 156 of this dispenser also may be removed for accessibility to the interior when the upper cabinet door 84 is open.

When the door 84 is closed and locked, the dispenser in the cabinet is protected against tampering, While the towels are readily accessible in the central compartment 68, Other types of dispensers may be mounted in the cabinet in a similar manner.

When the cloth towel dispenser 144 is mounted in the cabinet as seen in FIG. 7, the divider 70 is mounted in the lower position illustrated therein and in phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. The divider completely covers and closes the waste receiving opening 116 (FIGS. 5 and 8) in the lower compartment 58. The lower margin 78 (FIG. 4) of the divider abuts on the top surface of the facing channel 142 of the chute 136. The lower position of the divider also affords ample space thereabove for using the towel 146, and an attractive appearance is presented.

With the lower compartment 58 closed by the divider 7 t), the compartment is adapted for use as a storage compartment. The shelf 60 may be mounted on the tabs 56 in the compartment. Extra rolls of cloth towels and other washroom supplies may be stored and locked within the compartment.

When the paper towel dispenser 148 is mounted in the cabinet 10, the divider 70 is mounted in its raised position illustrated in FIG. 8, and also as illustrated in FIG. l in full lines and in FIG. 2 in broken lines. In

this position of the divider, the top opening 116 of the lower compartment 58 is accessible so that the compartment is accessible through the opening, from in front of the central compartment 68. At the same time, the divider provides a raised cover over the compartment opening and divides the cabinet into dispensing and disposal sections. The divider restricts the extent of possible downward pull on the paper 150, so that sheets are removed from the dispenser in the intended manner.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8, the shelf 54 may be mounted on the tabs 52 in the upper compartment when the paper towel dispenser 148 is used. Extra rolls of paper towels and other supplies may be stored and locked in the upper compartment above the dispenser.

The invention thus provides a very useful and versatile cabinet which cooperates equally well with diiferent types of towel dispensers. Only one type of cabinet need be manufactured and installed. Once installed, dispensers can be interchanged whenever desired. The cabinet accommodates the additional space requirements of a cloth towel dispenser, and it also provides the space required for collecting waste from a paper towel dispenser. In both cases, storage space is available for spare rolls of toweling and for other supplies. The cabinet is convenient, compact, economical and attractive.

It will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that such changes and modications be included within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1, A cabinet for towel dispensers which comprises an upper compartment adapted for mounting a towel dispenser therein, a lower compartment having a top opening, a central compartment having an open front, a divider adapted for covering said opening, means on said central compartment for mounting said divider therein in a lower position preventing access to said lower compartment through said opening, and means on said central compartment for mounting said divider therein in a raised position rendering said lower compartment accessible from in front of said central compartment and through said opening for the collection of waste in the lower compartment.

2. A cabinet for towel dispensers which comprises an upper compartment having means for interchangeably mounting towel dispensers therein, said upper compartment including a front door and a bottom dispensing opening, a lower compartment adapted for removably receiving a waste receptacle therein, said lower compartment including a front door and a top waste receiving opening, a central compartment having an open front, a cover for said waste receiving opening, mounting means on said cover, mounting means adjacent said lower compartment engagcable with said mounting means on Said cover for mounting the cover to prevent access to the lower compartment through said waste receiving opening, said interchangeable mounting means being disengageable from each other for removing said cover to render said lower compartment accessible from in front of said central compartment and through said waste receiving opening for the collection of Waste in the lower compartment, and means in said central compartment engageable with said mounting means on said cover for removably mounting said cover in a raised position spaced above said top waste receiving opening of said lower compartment, said cabinet thereby being adapted interchangeably for mounting a cloth towel dispenser in said upper compartment and mounting said cover `to prevent access to said lower compartment thereby adapting it for use as a storage compartment, and for mounting a paper towel dispenser in said upper compartment and removing said cover to said raised position to adapt said lower compartment for use as a waste compartment.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,234,900 Hipschin July 3l, 1917 1,681,840 Carlson Aug. 2l, 1928 1,688,242 Lawrence et al. Oct. 16, 1928 1,756,765 Steiner Apr. 29, 1930 1,783,149 Jantzen Nov. 25, 1930 1,876,172 Ruddy Sept. 6, 1932 1,915,522 Eriksen June 27, 1933 1,937,935 Zimmerman Dec. 5, 1933 2,965,427 Sessions Dec. 20, 1960 3,008,785 Gehrs Nov. 14, 1961 

1. A CABINET FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS WHICH COMPRISES AN UPPER COMPARTMENT ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING A TOWEL DISPENSER THEREIN, A LOWER COMPARTMENT HAVING A TOP OPENING, A CENTRAL COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OPEN FRONT, A DIVIDER ADAPTED FOR COVERING SAID OPENING, MEANS ON SAID CENTRAL COMPARTMENT FOR MOUNTING SAID DIVIDER THEREIN IN A LOWER POSITION PREVENTING ACCESS TO SAID LOWER COMPARTMENT THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND MEANS ON SAID CENTRAL COMPARTMENT FOR MOUNTING SAID DIVIDER THEREIN IN A RAISED POSITION RENDERING SAID LOWER COMPARTMENT ACCESSIBLE FROM IN FRONT OF SAID CENTRAL COMPARTMENT AND THROUGH SAID OPENING FOR THE COLLECTION OF WASTE IN THE LOWER COMPARTMENT. 